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p gallery roject HIGHL IGHT S F ROM F INEHOME BUI LDING.COM Antique-barn restoration J FIRST, A NEW FOUNDATION The barn was lifted by Geddes Building Movers of Bow, N.H., so that Sheridan and his crew could dig underneath and put forms in place for the new concrete foundation. w or post projects, click on Gallery tab on our home page at FineHomebuilding.com 82 FINE HOMEBUILDING ohn Sheridan of Integrity Restoration has worked on many projects during his 20-plus years in business, but the resurrection of this 1750s barn on a working farm in Hamilton, Mass., is his favorite. The property owner wrestled with the decision of whether to attempt extensive renovations or to tear down the old barn and begin anew. In the end, her deep appreciation for antique structures and Sheridan’s conviction that the barn was worth saving led to the decision to restore. By the time work began, the barn’s decaying carrying posts were sit- ting directly on the ground, and the distance to the first-floor ceiling was a mere 66 in. Sheridan and his crew replaced rotten timbers and slowly moved the building back into a plumb, square position. Original exterior boards were carefully removed, milled to eliminate decay, and reinstalled. To reduce maintenance costs, HardiePlank siding and asphalt roof shingles replaced the barn’s original cedar shingles. Its traditional look was maintained by painting it a deep barn red. Sheridan says this project was “a labor of love” for him and the owner. Their hope is that their restoration efforts will inspire future generations to maintain the antique barn for at least another 250 years. Restoration: Integrity Restoration, Ipswich, Mass. Photographs: courtesy of John Sheridan, Integrity Restoration